A Nigerian human rights organisation has asked the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate a complaint of hate speech against Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project also asked ICC prosecutors to investigate the alleged complicity or negligence of South Africa's police in preventing the xenophobic attacks that it said resulted from Zwelithini's comments.
Zwelithini reportedly told a gathering in Pongola, in northern KwaZulu-Natal in March that "foreigners must pack their bags and go home".
A spate of xenophobic violence erupted in parts of KZN and Gauteng this month that left at least seven people dead and thousands displaced.
Zwelithini later lambasted the media for "choosing to deliberately distort what was an innocent outcry against crime and destruction of property".
